Greed, lies and murder are woven into the House of Gucci

House of Gucci is a true story of the consequences of greed, to the point that the film could have been aptly titled House of Greed.

Set in Italy and New York during the 80s, the film explores the tumultuous time when Gucci suffered from financial, competitor and family woes. But it would be a storybook romance gone awry that would be at the epicenter of Gucci’s fall from grace amidst family betrayal, and rise to fame after American designer Tom Ford reinvigorated the luxury brand for a new era of fashion glitterati.

Standouts in this film undoubtedly were the actors, specifically Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani, an ambitious social climber and Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), heir to 50% of the company, whom she married. Both Gaga and Driver are stellar in their roles, bringing the doomed couple to life with an authentic yet tragic realism. Based on the book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed written by Sara G. Forden—the screenplay adaptation is riveting, heartbreaking, and even comical at times.

The fashion featured in the film definitely vies for the spotlight. Thanks to British costume designer Janty Yates, vintage pieces got a cameo and there are looks that run the gamut from flamboyant furs and tailored suits to glitzy signature accessories embellished with the iconic interlocking Gs. As the lives of the Gucci clan began to unravel, the future of the label would be woven into fashion history, illustrated when sartorial elites Anna Wintour and Tom Ford were depicted in the movie for their influence on the brand.

Without a doubt, House of Gucci is a film that will not only entertain and educate you on one of the most internationally famous brands in the world, but also a lesson on what not to do when mixing business and family.

Images courtesy of MGM